table of contents
I. safety warning
II. thesis
III. rubber boat gimmick
IV. essence of rubber boating
V. example
VI. more tips
------------------------------------------------------
I. safety warning
WARNING !!!
1. everyone should wear a life vest
2. the under currents in mactan are deceptively strong. if no one is an expert rower who can easily maneuver the rubber boat, never go deeper than 4 feet and someone must be standing firmly on the sea floor holding the boat. an expert rower should be able to do this easily:
3. when going to the deep, never overload the rubber boat with too many passengers. follow the manufacturer's recommendation. or use common sense - if it's difficult to maneuver then that means the rubber boat is overloaded.
II. thesis
if you are in cebu city you are virtually in a nice and clean beach resort where you have privacy. the mactan public beaches are now crowded but you and your friends can hang out on a rubber boat far out in the sea away from the crowd. traffic is no problem if you ride a motorcycle it only takes 30-40 minutes.
this is perfect for call center barkadas in manila. instead of spending a month worth of your salary staying in expensive beach resorts, you can stay at a low cost but comfortable airbnb, reddoorz or hostell in the city (P300-P400/person) and still enjoy the coral reef treasures of cebu.
III. rubber boat gimmick
how in the world do you carry a big rubber boat and 2 life vests on a motorcycle? the following photo collage will give you an idea:
for those visiting cebu, you can rent a motorbike from "ZG rent a motorbike" for P500 a day (P250/person if there are 2 of you).
aren't rubber boats and electric pumps expensive? in lazada, the rubber boat cost P1,200, life jacket P235, and electric pump P152 (public beaches have electrical outlets you can plug into for P50 to pump your rubberboat). but you only have to buy them once unlike renting a cottage for a day which cost around P2,000 to P3,000.
also note that if your pump fails there's usually someone who has a manual pump that inflates inflatable water toys for money. i'm not sure how much it costs for a big rubber boat probably around P100.
if you leave around 3pm, you will arrive at the beach around 3:30 when the sun is already mild or not that hot anymore but you still have around 2 hours to snorkel. you need some sun anyways for vitamin D (i discuss this in my blog article - https://ian-crystal.blogspot.com/2018/08/i-just-won-a-billion-dollars.html). mactan newtown closes at 10pm so you can continue to hang out with your barkada or enjoy a romantic evening with your lablab under the beautiful stars.
for call center barkadas who work the night shift you can leave at dawn and enjoy the serene twilight ambience of the sea. here is a photo of jacob and bella rubber boating in twilight.
later you can bask at the rays of the sunrise. or you can just tough it out under the sun the whole day as long as you wear sunscreen or wear a rush guard and a hat or sombrero.
you can also go to marigondon beach which has no entrance fee but make sure to wear rubber shoes or water shoes because during low tide you will need to walk about 100 yards where there are sea urchins or tuyoms. this is a free public beach so of course it can get very crowded. but this is where the magic of the rubber boat comes in. even in the weekend where it is most crowded, me and my scholar can still enjoy privacy in crystal clear emerald and turquoise green waters far away from the crowd. here are some underwater photos i took:
not too shabby. the flora and fauna is not that much different from snorkling in boracay (https://www.facebook.com/ian.crystal.90/media_set?set=a.10151467113945321&type=3)
hadsan is also a good option if you bring kids because it's a cove and it's shallow (P40 entrance).
the great thing about mactan beaches is that it's relatively calm all year round (even during habagat and amihan) because it's protected by santa rosa, bohol and cebu islands. so you can sip your san mig light and munch on your favorite chichiryas in tranquility.
you can even go fishing. while my girlfriend karin syren was snorkling she saw lots of squids. luckily i brought a squid lure with me.
not too shabby. the flora and fauna is not that much different from snorkling in boracay (https://www.facebook.com/ian.crystal.90/media_set?set=a.10151467113945321&type=3)
hadsan is also a good option if you bring kids because it's a cove and it's shallow (P40 entrance).
the great thing about mactan beaches is that it's relatively calm all year round (even during habagat and amihan) because it's protected by santa rosa, bohol and cebu islands. so you can sip your san mig light and munch on your favorite chichiryas in tranquility.
you can even go fishing. while my girlfriend karin syren was snorkling she saw lots of squids. luckily i brought a squid lure with me.
that's all you really have to know the rest you can figure out on your own. but if you want me to spoon feed you and you have a high threshold of tolerance for my irritating voice, continue weading (watching and reading. it's a new word i invented and will soon be added to the webster's dictionary).
IV. essence of rubber boating
IV. essence of rubber boating
"We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came." -- JFK
swimming in the deep crystal clear emerald and turquoise green waters satisfies my soul. i don't know why maybe it's just instinct or embedded in my genes or biology. i've learned early in my life that if we go against our true nature or instinct it's always a recipe for unhappiness.
that's why i've been doing this since i was in high school 35 years ago. i also learned back then that scuba diving gives me an ear ache that would last for days so i resorted to a much lamer alternative - snorkling and rubber boating. back then there was no traffic so going by car was ok. portable electric pumps were not common yet so i had to inflate my rubber boat at a gas station and transport it on top of my car. my car became an instant head turner like a lamborghini. when stopping at a traffic light everyone would be looking at my car.
going to the beach breaks the monotony of city life and refreshes one's mental well being. this is especially true for call center agents.
the purpose of the rubber boat is so i don't have to swim all the way to the shore to rest or eat snacks. i also have a shark phobia because i was too young when i watched the movie jaws. so having something i can quickly climb on if there is a shark gives me a sense of security. there are sharks, barracudas and venomous sea snakes around mactan although nobody has ever been attacked by them. here's a video of me snorkling near the cliff or kantil. notice it suddenly turns dark as it drops a hundred feet. imagine if a barracuda suddenly appears out of nowhere. i know you are already immune to the fear of the wild under sea after watching those nature channels. but the actual is entirely different from a youtube video. believe me if you lived in manila all your life and you and your call center buddies come to cebu to snorkel near the cliff you would wish you have a rubber boat beside you.
after learning about neuroplasticity, i frequently take my my foster kids and scholars snorkeling hoping it will help rehab them from their childhood trauma. but they are too scared to go in the water. the rubber boat allows them to snorkel without having to go in the water.
also there are some beaches in mactan where during low tide you have to walk very far to where it is deep enough to swim. and if the water is up to your knees it is very difficult to walk not to mention the sea urchins and other scary or icky creatures you can possibly come in contact with. especially if you can't see what you are stepping on because of the thick sea weeds or sea grass.
the private beach house of my high school classmate dax was like this. so when we go there my classmates would take turns riding my rubber boat during low tide. dax was so cool he would be in the billboards and in the magazines because he was a model but i didn't know male models are required to shave their legs so when he got on my rubber boat i freaked out and my classmates laughed at my ignorance.
i've been all over the world and experienced all kinds of luxury. believe me when i tell you - this is it !!! luxury yachts and private jets don't make me happy. you've probably heard the axiom:
the two happiest days in a yacht owners life are the day he buys and the day he sells it.
of course you will be excited the day you buy the yacht. but after a while you will probably realize you just bought something very expensive that doesn't really make you happy. so when you sell it you will feel relieved you at least got some of your money back.
of course if you give me a ferrari i will happily accept it but i will just sell it and use the money to help the needy. it's really the people i'm with and making a difference in other people's lives that makes me happy and content in life and also as i said earlier, satisfying my biological needs and instincts such as playing golf. our genetic makeup determines our roles in society. maybe golf satisfies my hunter genes that's why when i make a bad shot i get so pissed even if i know golf is just a useless game. maybe my uncontrollable emotional reaction to missing an easy putt is survival feature warning me that if i continue to suck my family or village will go hungry. maybe basketball enthusiasts have the warrior genes. except now human society is more civilized so there is no more need to fight and hunt so we invented sports such as golf and basketball to satisfy our biological needs that evolution hasn't yet removed but are already obsolete in the modern socio-economic system.
also, the richest people in the world ride a motorbike for fun. their bikes are faster and bigger but to me speeding on a motorbike is not fun, it's just dangerous and irresponsible. i wrote an article about road safety that i think everyone should read - https://ian-crystal.blogspot.com/2018/10/road-safety-knowledge-bombs.html. i will soon make video demos on my safety techniques or maneuvers. for now the most important thing to keep in mind when riding a motorbike is never go above 40kph. slow joy riding also satisfies my biological instinct. however, getting stuck in traffic is something i hate, even if i'm riding a bentley listening to a good audio book. maybe because traffic jams are something new from an evolutionary perspective so our biology is not yet used to it.
V. example
let me walk you through my process to give you some tips and ideas.
first, i only go rubber boating when i feel healthy and energetic. you can't have fun if you are exhausted, and if you keep pushing it, at some point you are going to burn out and resort to drugs. please join my advocacy in asking congress to pass some sort of part time opportunity law - https://ian-crystal.blogspot.com/2020/03/part-time-opportunity-law.html
i would also like to share my health discoveries that have helped me tremendously. for those who are always ill because of allergies, give my solutions a try - https://ian-crystal.blogspot.com/2018/08/i-just-won-a-billion-dollars.html. also, the key to health is your microbiome - https://ian-crystal.blogspot.com/2020/10/make-filipinos-healthy-again.html
in anything i do, i always have a system or checklist to avoid problems that would ruin the fun and pleasure. this also prevents stress and allows me to focus more on what's more important.
the night before i go rubber boating, i charge my gadgets:
i also load my playlist on my iphone - songs, 10 minute stand up comedy, talk shows, etc ... i include stand up comedy (fluffy, bill burr, etc ...) because laughter is healthy and i usually don't go out with friends or a barkada. i'm always with girls i'm mentoring so my only source for laughter during the motorcycle ride is my downloads such as alex calleja or dave chappelle.
i also have one of my scholars check the tire pressure (using my portable electric pump) and check the oil level of my motorcycle (folks at the motorcycle shop can teach you how to do this when you change oil). if your motorcycle tires do not have enough pressure (32 psi), your interior could tear if you hit a bump.
here's my checklist before i leave:
- wear swimwear under the clothes (saves time changing when you arrive)
- wear water shoes or worn out rubber shoes
- sack bag containing 2 life vests (you can buy the sack bag in taboan public market)
- sack bag containing the rubber boat and paddles
- cheap back pack containing:
(worn out or giveaway back pack because marine atmosphere contains sea mist that would quickly corrode the zippers):
- electric pump
- water proof cameras (i don't have an iphone 11)
- snorkel
- prescription lens for snorkel (if you wear glasses, get a cheap one that fits on your snorkel and remove the arms)
- eyeglass case
- chain and padlock for electric pump (mine is heavy so i prefer to leave it on the shore. if you have the normal electric pump just bring it with you on the rubber boat because it's small and very light)
- plastic bag that can water seal your backpack (you will bring the bag with you on the rubber boat)
- water proof pouch for wallet and cellphone (zip lock bags also work just double or triple it)
- trash bag if you bring food on the rubber boat. please preserve our treasure. dispose your trash properly. even something as small as a cigarette butt.
- make sure the padlock key is with the motorbike key
- hook the bluetooth speaker on right chest so you can clearly hear coach mav's inspirational speeches (JBL speakers have a powerful bass that might disrupt the rhytm of your heartbeat so don't put it on your left chest) . if your passenger is the dominant, then of course put it nearer to her since it will be her songs that will be playing.
put the rubber boat sack bag in front of you and put the sack bag containing the life vests between you and your passenger
no need to bring food. just stop by jollibee or AA barbecue. the public resorts in mactan sells drinks and chichiryas even cheaper than 7-11.
i usually go to mactan new town. use waze or google maps to get to mactan newtown business park (across the church) (upper left photo). enter the road next to the blue building (upper middle photo). then take the first left (upper right photo). then turn right at the gate that has the mactan newtown sign (lower left photo). then turn right again (lower middle photo). then take the left fork (lower left photo).
upon arrival, i:
- inflate rubber boat (assemble and install the paddles while it's inflating. my large rubber boat takes about 2 minutes 30 seconds to inflate using my portable pump)
- put wallets, cellphones and keys in the waterproof pouch and put it in the backpack
- put clothes in the backpack
- chain the pump to a fence
- wear life vests
- take out snorkel, water proof camera and snorkel glasses from the backpack
- put backpack inside the plastic bag and seal it
- go rubber boating/snorkling
when it's time to leave:
- deflate the rubber boat using the electric pump (transfer the hose to the deflate connection)
- disassemble the paddles and put it in the sack bag
- put life vests in the sack bag
- change to dry clothes (i use the towel trick because i'm too lazy to walk to the changing room)
- put the wet swimwear in the plastic bag and put it in the backpack
- put the rubber boat in the sack bag
- put wallets and cell phones in pockets
upon arriving home:
- i have my scholar rinse the rubber boat and life vests and put it back in the sack bags when they're dry
VI. more tips
if you are in a hurry to buy the rubber boat and life vests, you can buy in gaisano country mall in banilad but the price will be more than double. a 2 person (300 lbs) rubber boat will cost around P3,3k while the 3 person (500 lbs) is around P6k. strangely i bought my 3 person rubber boat at rustans for only P4k (rustans is suppose to be more expensive). but rustans only sells them during the summer season. in gaisano country mall, life vests cost between P750-P900.
gaisano capital in colon st is also selling for P1,200:
if you bring a car, just buy in lazada the electric pump that you can plug into the cigarette lighter or 12V outlet of your car. note there is no traffic on sundays so if you have a car it's better to go by car.
the reason why i bring the heavy portable pump is because i want to pump it right on the beach and not have to carry the rubber boat from where there is an electrical outlet which can be far. also it can inflate tires so in case my motorbike or car gets a flat tire, it can get me to the nearest vulcanizing station. you can buy this in lazada. pump (P799) + charger (P1,500) + battery (P600) = P2,899 + shipping. note the battery also serves as an additional power bank for you cellphones.
when i was cleaning and organizing my parent's house i found a 1 person size rubber boat. me and my scholar can still fit comfortably but our legs will have to be touching which i try my best to avoid so i never used it again.
one last tip: when people borrow my rubber boat, they always lose the stopper ring for the paddle. you can just cut out an old tire interior and use it as a stopper:
this is over kill but if you want shade from the sun you can do some engineering. and if you want some privacy just drop down the curtains:
lastly, if you want to splurge, my recommendation is plantation bay:
rubber-boating with my "airbnb guest with benefits":
swimming in the deep crystal clear emerald and turquoise green waters satisfies my soul. i don't know why maybe it's just instinct or embedded in my genes or biology. i've learned early in my life that if we go against our true nature or instinct it's always a recipe for unhappiness.
that's why i've been doing this since i was in high school 35 years ago. i also learned back then that scuba diving gives me an ear ache that would last for days so i resorted to a much lamer alternative - snorkling and rubber boating. back then there was no traffic so going by car was ok. portable electric pumps were not common yet so i had to inflate my rubber boat at a gas station and transport it on top of my car. my car became an instant head turner like a lamborghini. when stopping at a traffic light everyone would be looking at my car.
going to the beach breaks the monotony of city life and refreshes one's mental well being. this is especially true for call center agents.
the purpose of the rubber boat is so i don't have to swim all the way to the shore to rest or eat snacks. i also have a shark phobia because i was too young when i watched the movie jaws. so having something i can quickly climb on if there is a shark gives me a sense of security. there are sharks, barracudas and venomous sea snakes around mactan although nobody has ever been attacked by them. here's a video of me snorkling near the cliff or kantil. notice it suddenly turns dark as it drops a hundred feet. imagine if a barracuda suddenly appears out of nowhere. i know you are already immune to the fear of the wild under sea after watching those nature channels. but the actual is entirely different from a youtube video. believe me if you lived in manila all your life and you and your call center buddies come to cebu to snorkel near the cliff you would wish you have a rubber boat beside you.
after learning about neuroplasticity, i frequently take my my foster kids and scholars snorkeling hoping it will help rehab them from their childhood trauma. but they are too scared to go in the water. the rubber boat allows them to snorkel without having to go in the water.
also there are some beaches in mactan where during low tide you have to walk very far to where it is deep enough to swim. and if the water is up to your knees it is very difficult to walk not to mention the sea urchins and other scary or icky creatures you can possibly come in contact with. especially if you can't see what you are stepping on because of the thick sea weeds or sea grass.
the private beach house of my high school classmate dax was like this. so when we go there my classmates would take turns riding my rubber boat during low tide. dax was so cool he would be in the billboards and in the magazines because he was a model but i didn't know male models are required to shave their legs so when he got on my rubber boat i freaked out and my classmates laughed at my ignorance.
i've been all over the world and experienced all kinds of luxury. believe me when i tell you - this is it !!! luxury yachts and private jets don't make me happy. you've probably heard the axiom:
the two happiest days in a yacht owners life are the day he buys and the day he sells it.
of course you will be excited the day you buy the yacht. but after a while you will probably realize you just bought something very expensive that doesn't really make you happy. so when you sell it you will feel relieved you at least got some of your money back.
also, the richest people in the world ride a motorbike for fun. their bikes are faster and bigger but to me speeding on a motorbike is not fun, it's just dangerous and irresponsible. i wrote an article about road safety that i think everyone should read - https://ian-crystal.blogspot.com/2018/10/road-safety-knowledge-bombs.html. i will soon make video demos on my safety techniques or maneuvers. for now the most important thing to keep in mind when riding a motorbike is never go above 40kph. slow joy riding also satisfies my biological instinct. however, getting stuck in traffic is something i hate, even if i'm riding a bentley listening to a good audio book. maybe because traffic jams are something new from an evolutionary perspective so our biology is not yet used to it.
V. example
let me walk you through my process to give you some tips and ideas.
first, i only go rubber boating when i feel healthy and energetic. you can't have fun if you are exhausted, and if you keep pushing it, at some point you are going to burn out and resort to drugs. please join my advocacy in asking congress to pass some sort of part time opportunity law - https://ian-crystal.blogspot.com/2020/03/part-time-opportunity-law.html
i would also like to share my health discoveries that have helped me tremendously. for those who are always ill because of allergies, give my solutions a try - https://ian-crystal.blogspot.com/2018/08/i-just-won-a-billion-dollars.html. also, the key to health is your microbiome - https://ian-crystal.blogspot.com/2020/10/make-filipinos-healthy-again.html
in anything i do, i always have a system or checklist to avoid problems that would ruin the fun and pleasure. this also prevents stress and allows me to focus more on what's more important.
the night before i go rubber boating, i charge my gadgets:
i also load my playlist on my iphone - songs, 10 minute stand up comedy, talk shows, etc ... i include stand up comedy (fluffy, bill burr, etc ...) because laughter is healthy and i usually don't go out with friends or a barkada. i'm always with girls i'm mentoring so my only source for laughter during the motorcycle ride is my downloads such as alex calleja or dave chappelle.
i also have one of my scholars check the tire pressure (using my portable electric pump) and check the oil level of my motorcycle (folks at the motorcycle shop can teach you how to do this when you change oil). if your motorcycle tires do not have enough pressure (32 psi), your interior could tear if you hit a bump.
here's my checklist before i leave:
- wear swimwear under the clothes (saves time changing when you arrive)
- wear water shoes or worn out rubber shoes
- sack bag containing 2 life vests (you can buy the sack bag in taboan public market)
- sack bag containing the rubber boat and paddles
- cheap back pack containing:
(worn out or giveaway back pack because marine atmosphere contains sea mist that would quickly corrode the zippers):
- electric pump
- water proof cameras (i don't have an iphone 11)
- snorkel
- prescription lens for snorkel (if you wear glasses, get a cheap one that fits on your snorkel and remove the arms)
- eyeglass case
- chain and padlock for electric pump (mine is heavy so i prefer to leave it on the shore. if you have the normal electric pump just bring it with you on the rubber boat because it's small and very light)
- plastic bag that can water seal your backpack (you will bring the bag with you on the rubber boat)
- water proof pouch for wallet and cellphone (zip lock bags also work just double or triple it)
- trash bag if you bring food on the rubber boat. please preserve our treasure. dispose your trash properly. even something as small as a cigarette butt.
- make sure the padlock key is with the motorbike key
- hook the bluetooth speaker on right chest so you can clearly hear coach mav's inspirational speeches (JBL speakers have a powerful bass that might disrupt the rhytm of your heartbeat so don't put it on your left chest) . if your passenger is the dominant, then of course put it nearer to her since it will be her songs that will be playing.
put the rubber boat sack bag in front of you and put the sack bag containing the life vests between you and your passenger
no need to bring food. just stop by jollibee or AA barbecue. the public resorts in mactan sells drinks and chichiryas even cheaper than 7-11.
i usually go to mactan new town. use waze or google maps to get to mactan newtown business park (across the church) (upper left photo). enter the road next to the blue building (upper middle photo). then take the first left (upper right photo). then turn right at the gate that has the mactan newtown sign (lower left photo). then turn right again (lower middle photo). then take the left fork (lower left photo).
- inflate rubber boat (assemble and install the paddles while it's inflating. my large rubber boat takes about 2 minutes 30 seconds to inflate using my portable pump)
- put wallets, cellphones and keys in the waterproof pouch and put it in the backpack
- put clothes in the backpack
- chain the pump to a fence
- wear life vests
- take out snorkel, water proof camera and snorkel glasses from the backpack
- put backpack inside the plastic bag and seal it
- go rubber boating/snorkling
when it's time to leave:
- deflate the rubber boat using the electric pump (transfer the hose to the deflate connection)
- disassemble the paddles and put it in the sack bag
- put life vests in the sack bag
- change to dry clothes (i use the towel trick because i'm too lazy to walk to the changing room)
- put the wet swimwear in the plastic bag and put it in the backpack
- put the rubber boat in the sack bag
- put wallets and cell phones in pockets
upon arriving home:
- i have my scholar rinse the rubber boat and life vests and put it back in the sack bags when they're dry
VI. more tips
if you are in a hurry to buy the rubber boat and life vests, you can buy in gaisano country mall in banilad but the price will be more than double. a 2 person (300 lbs) rubber boat will cost around P3,3k while the 3 person (500 lbs) is around P6k. strangely i bought my 3 person rubber boat at rustans for only P4k (rustans is suppose to be more expensive). but rustans only sells them during the summer season. in gaisano country mall, life vests cost between P750-P900.
gaisano capital in colon st is also selling for P1,200:
if you bring a car, just buy in lazada the electric pump that you can plug into the cigarette lighter or 12V outlet of your car. note there is no traffic on sundays so if you have a car it's better to go by car.
the reason why i bring the heavy portable pump is because i want to pump it right on the beach and not have to carry the rubber boat from where there is an electrical outlet which can be far. also it can inflate tires so in case my motorbike or car gets a flat tire, it can get me to the nearest vulcanizing station. you can buy this in lazada. pump (P799) + charger (P1,500) + battery (P600) = P2,899 + shipping. note the battery also serves as an additional power bank for you cellphones.
when my scholars inflate the large rubber boat they always make a mistake of removing the big bottom plug instead of just opening the top plug. the advantage of the top plug is that air can't come out but air can come in. the big plug is only removed when deflating:
this is over kill but if you want shade from the sun you can do some engineering. and if you want some privacy just drop down the curtains:
lastly, if you want to splurge, my recommendation is plantation bay:
more photos and videos:
zoom meeting while rubber boating:
graduation celebration:
(for more of my knowledge bombs, click the "ian's knowledge bombs" banner at the top of this article and choose any article in the table of contents that piques your interest)
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